Foldable table and valise.



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Patented Jan. 28, 1919.

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JAMES w. nomnroxn, or nnrnnninen, ALBERTA, cannon.

nonnnnnn TABLE Ann vnmsn.

. Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 28, 1919.

Application filed July 9, 191a. Serial No. 244,049.

' whom it may concern:

'Be it known that I, J AMES W. Hommma, a subject of the King of England residing at Lethbridge, in the Province of Alberta and Domimon of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Foldable Tables and Valises, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in foldable tables and valises The primary ob ect of the invention is the provision of a foldable writlng table cognpactly arranged within a vahse ready or immediate use when desired for writing urposes upon opening the valise and un oldmg the table.

A further object of the mventlon IS the provision of a table attachment for valises and similar containers normally arranged in folded arrangement within the lid of the valise when not in use and taking up only slight space therein while its presence can easily go urmoticed, the table being readily opened and set up for use when the val se IS in its 0 en arrangement, thereby provldmg a sufliclently firm table of suitab e dimensions for writing and other purposes.

In thedfawing forming part of this application and in which. e designating characters refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device set up for use as a writing table.

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view thereof partly broken away.

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view of a portion of the lid of the valise with the hm ed portion of the table illustrated in its folded arrangement.

Fig. 4 isan inverted interior view of a corner portion of the lid showing the stop groove for accommodating the adjacent ed e of the table and Fig.5 is a perspective view of a portion of the attaching edge of the table with its hinging means.

ferring more in detail to the drawing,

7 a valise 10 is herein illustrated of the usual form having a box-shaped body or holder 11 with the overlying cover 12 connected to the rear thereof by hinges 13 while foldable connecting brackets 14 are arranged between the said holder and cover. My writing table 15 is adapted for folding arrangement within thecover 12 and consists of flat panels 16 and 17 hinged together at 18.while the free edge of the panel 16 is connected to the inner face of the top wall 19 of the cover 12 by means of hinges 20. Struts or legs 21 are hinged adjacent the free opposite corners of the panel 17 for readily folding inwardly against the lower side of the panel 17 adjacent its forward free edge when the table is folded, the said legs 21 bein positioned vertically with their lower en 5 seated within straps 22 carried by the ends of the holder 11 when the table is set up for use as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

A longitudinal groove 23 is arranged within the cover 12 at the forward edge of the top wall 19 adapted for receiving the inner edge portion 24 of the panel 16, which portion 24 lies inwardly of the position of the hinges 20. The panel portion 24 has an arcuate swinging movement of substantially 90 during the opening and closing of panel 16, the sald portion 24 engaging the longitudinal shoulder 25 after the manner of a stop arranged at the forward side of the groove 23 when the panel 16 is folded within the cover 12 as illustrated in -Fig. 3 of the drawing.

When the cover 12 is open, the same is maintained substantially vertically when the holder 11 is horizontally positioned, for instance as seated upon the floor, not shown and the panels 16 and 17 will be unfolded and arranged horizontally while the legs 21 will be unfolded and vertically arranged within the sockets 22. When the table 15 is in its operative position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, the panel 16 will flatly engage the inner face of the forward wall 26 of the cover 12 while the inner edge portion 24 of the panel 16 will at such times engage the inner edge or stop shoulder 27 of the groove 23. Dowel pins 28 are carried by the panel portion 24 adapted for reception within sockets 29 of the said shoulder 27 when the anels are horizontally arranged in their ta le top formation.

It will be seen that the weight of the panels 16 and 17 when arranged for use will be sustained by the shoulder 27 of the cover 12, taking the load off of the hinges 20 while the legs 21 also assist in supporting the said panels. When the panels and legs are folded and positioned within the cover 12 it will be seen that only a slight space is taken up by the device while the anels and legs may be readily unfolded and set up for use as a v serviceable table structure by unfolding the panels 16 and 17 and the legs 21. The table 1s serviceable for writing purposes but it will be obvious that the same may also be employedfor other urposes such as displaying goods when t e valise 10 is used by commercial travelers and agents.

What I claim as new is 2-- 1. A device of the class described comprising a valise having a hinged cover arranged with a longitudinal groove on its interior, a table panel hinged within the cover having an edge portion swingingly positioned within the said groove adapted for resting upon the shoulder at one edge of the groove when the panel is horizontally arranged in table formation, an outer panel hingedl-y connected to said table panel, supporting legs foldably carried bythe said outer panel and means witiin the valise adapted for receiving the lower ends of the legs when ithe latter are vertically arranged with the outer panel in its horizontal operative position.

2. In combination with a valise comprising a holder having a cover hinged thereto adapted for vertical arrangement when the valise is open, the said cover having an interior longitudinal groove arranged .within its forward edge portion with stop shoulders at the forward and rear edges of said groove, a table panel having an edge swingingly positioned within the said groove, hinges carried 'by the top secured to the said panel at a point spaced from its edge within said groove whereby foldable supporting means wall of the cover mes es portion of the panel. is seated upon the rear shoulder of the groove with the panel flatly engaging the forward wall of the cover when the panel is set up for use as a table in a horizontal position.

3. In combination with a valise comprising a holder having a cover hinged thereto adapted for vertical arrangement when the valise is open, the said cover having an interior longitudinal groove arranged within its forward edge portion with stop shoulders at the forward and rear edges of said groove, a table panel having an edge swingingly positioned within, the said groove, hinges carried by the top wall of the cover secured to the said panel at a point spaced from its edge 'within said groove whereby the edge portion of the panel is seated upon the rear shoulder of the groove with the panel flatly engaging the edge the forward wall of the cover when the panel is set up for use as a table in a horizontal rear shoulder of the groove being provided with sockets, dowels carried by the edge of said panel arranged within the groove and adapted for seating within said sockets when the panel is horizontally arranged, the said panel adapted for engaging the forward .houlder when the device is in its folded inoperative arrangement within the cover and carried by the panel adapted for seating within the holder when arranged as a table.

In testimony whereof I JAMES w. HOMINUKE.

afiix my signature.

position, the said" 

